Overview

• Special Judge Vishal Gogne framed charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act along with criminal conspiracy and cheating, and the accused pleaded not guilty as the case moves to trial.
• The court noted the CBI’s claim that Lalu Prasad influenced IRCTC tenders and that undervalued land parcels reached Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav.
• Investigators allege two BNR hotels in Puri and Ranchi were leased to Sujata Hotels through a manipulated tender process as part of a quid pro quo.
• Other accused named include IRCTC officials VK Asthana and RK Goyal; Sujata Hotels directors Vijay and Vinay Kochhar; firms Delight Marketing (now Lara Projects) and Sujata Hotels; PK Goel; and Sarla Gupta.
• The case stems from a 2022 FIR that also outlines alleged land‑for‑jobs appointments in the Railways’ West Central Zone between 2004 and 2009, which the Yadavs deny as politically motivated.